Sewing machine



May 19, 1942. G. BURKEY SEWING MACHINE Fi led June 5, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet 1 m j m S m I bu \Nw NM m k mm hm Q a iv 15 I ww fi m\\ Z Arm's/var G. BUR/(Ev BY ATTORNEYS ay 19,1 4 L. G. BURKE Y I 2,283,535 v SEWING MACHINE Filed June 5, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 -1NVENTOR Z HWRE/VCE 6. BUR/(6') BY v ATTORNEYS Patented May 19, 1942 3 SEWING MACHINE.

Lawrence G. Bur-key, Cresson,'P'a., 'assignor'to S. Liebovitz & Sons, Inc., Myerstown, Pa., a corporation of New York Application June 5, 1940,.SeriaLNo. 338,828

19 Claims. (Cl;'11'2'132) This invention relates to improvements insewing machines and has particular reference to a shirring mechanism therefor.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved shirring mechanism of simple and practical construction wherein the operating parts of the mechanism are compactly assembled and so arranged that the amount of movement and the consequent wearing of parts will be reduced to a minimum, with a consequent increase in the efficiency of the machine.

Another object is to provide. an improved operating mechanism for a shirring member wherein there is included an operating shaft driven from the main shaft of the sewing machine to, in turn, drive a transmission between said operating shaft and shirring member, and wherein said transmission has an inactive position in which said shirring member remains idle and from which said transmission can be moved to operate said member by a means which includes an actuator rod that extends through said operating shaft.

The above and other objects will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a rear elevation, partly in section, of a sewing machine and the operating mechanism for the shirring member.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of said operating mechanism and part of the fabric feed mechanism of the sewing machine, showing the shirring member in its inoperative position.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 illustrating the shirring member and its operating mechanism in operative position.

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a detailed perspective view of a driven element forming a part of the operating mechanism for the shirrer, and

Figure 7 is a section of a detail taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 3.

The invention is illustrated in connection with a well-known type of sewing machine comprising the usual work support or bed plate Ill beneath which is disposed the conventional fabric feed mechanism, generally indicated by the numeral II, and operated in the customary manner from the rock lift shaft l2 and the rock feed shaft [3. A guide is mounted on the work support-feeds the fabric beneath the usual presserfoot l5 and in position to be stitched by the needle [6. Extending upwardly from -the;work support In is the, standard l1 whichincludes'the overhanging arm I8 wherein the main shaft I9 of the sewing,machine'is'located, said shaft be- 7 ing driven from the power pulley 23 to operate the various parts of; the machine including the shirring mechanism.

A frame assembly; generally indicatedby' the numeral 2!, issuitably attached to the arm I8 for supporting the shirring member and its operating parts. 'Saidshirring; member comprises-a blade 22 supported in its operative position relative to the-fabric guide M by means of a bracket 23 pivotedat 2-4 to the lower end of the reciprocatingcarrierrarm'fi; A pin andslot connection 26;provides for a limited movement'of the bracket 23 about, thegpivot 24 and aspring 21 coiled about said :pivot and having one end engaged with a stud2 8', normally urgesthe'blade 22 downwardly toward its operative position. In this position, the blade "is reciprocated by" reason of the" movement; of the carrier arm 2-5, as wi1llater appear; and thetiming; of the movement of said blade, is, such that during the forward stroke thereof,which forms a plait in the fabric, the

fabric feed H is raised by theshaft l2, and upon the return stroke of said blade said feed isoperated'bythe shaft [3. a

During intervals when, itis desired to throw the shirring mechanism out, of operation, a releasable supportin the-form of a sliding pin 29 mounted in the bearings 30, of the supporting frame 21 is moved to'the positionof Figure 2, against the tension of ,the coil spring 3|, to engage the stud 28 of the bracket 23 and thus lift the blade 22 out of operation so that. it will not interfere with the free feed of the fabric through the machine. The adjustment of thesupport 29 to its operative positionis accomplished through the medium of a cam 32 pivotally mounted on the bearing 33 and having connected thereto-one end of an operating rod 34 the other endof which is engaged by thelower end of a yoke 35 depending from the rocker arm 36. Said arm is mounted on the pivot 31' to which is also connected the usual presser-foot control bar 38 and at the other end of said arm there is joined thereto a Vertically disposed operating rod 39 which extends downwardly through the work support. land is connected at its lower end to a flexible element 40 which joins said rod with an operating treadle (not shown): by means of which the operator of the machine may control the shirring mechanism. It will be apparent from the construction thus far described that when a downward pull is exerted upon the rod 39 by the operation of the treadle, the rocker arm 36 will swing downwardly about the pivot 31 and thus cause the depending yoke 35 to move the rod 34 forwardly so as to turn the cam 32 about its axis to assume the position shown in Figures 3 and 5 wherein a low point of the cam 32 will be engaged by the adjacent end of the supporting pin 29, said pin being urged to said position by expansion of the spring 3|. Thus, said pin 29 will be withdrawn from engagement with the stud 28 and the spring 21 will thereupon act tothrow the blade 22 downwardly to its operative position. As will later appear in detail, the described movement of the yoke 35 is also utilized to initiate the reciprocating movement of the carrier arm 25, and consequently, of the shirring blade. In this manner, the release of the supporting pin 29 and the initiation of the operation 'of the shirring mechanism take place simultaneously. V

The operating mechanism for the shirring member will now be described. This mechanism is primarily controlled from the main shaft 9 which is utilized to drive a hollow operating shaft 4| rotatably mounted in suitable bearings 42 located within an open ended housing 43 forming part of the frame assembly 2|. Said shafts l9 and 4| are coupled by means of a counter-shaft 44 which extends through a sleeve 45 and is operatively connected to the shaft l9 through the bevelled gears 46 and to the shaft 4| by the bevelled gears 41. At the right hand end of the operating shaft 4|, as viewed in Figure 1, the same has secured thereto a collared disk 48 which rotates with said shaft and which has pivotally secured thereto, as at 49, a driven element 58 in the form of a segmental plate. This element 58 is adjustable, through the pin and slot connections 5|, relative to the disk 48 from its inoperative position of Figure 2 wherein the shirring member is inactive, to the operative position of Figure 3 in which said shirring member is operated by a transmission presently to be described and which is connected to the driven element 58. Extending laterally from the outer face of the driven element 58 is an angular bracket 52 which carries a bearing 53 to whichis connected one 'end of a pitman rod 54. In the inoperative position of the element 58, wherein the same is yieldabutments 56 and 51 on the disk 48 and element 58, respectively, the axis of the bearing 53 is disposed concentrically to the axis of rotation of the shaft 4|. Therefore, as said shaft is driven to rotate the disk 48 and element 58 there will be no reciprocating movement imparted to the pitman 54. Accordingly, as long as the element 58 is maintained in its inoperative position wherein it engages a stop 58 on the disk 48, the shirring member will remain out of operation. However, when the element 58 is adjusted to the position of Figure 3, by a means hereinafter to be described, the bearing 53 will be shifted to a position eccentric with respect to the shaft 4| and rotation of the disk 48 and element 58 will therefore cause a reciprocation of the pitman 54. The end of the latter remote'from the bearing 53 is connected to a cross-head 59. This crosshead is secured to the two parallel guide rods 68 'and'Gl which are slidably'mounted in the bearings 62 forming a part of the frame assembly 2|. The carrier arm 25 is secured to a projecting end of the lower guide rod 6| and thus receives its reciprocatory movement from said rod as the cross-head 59 is operated by the pitman 54.

The amount of such reciprocating movement of the carrier arm 25, and consequently of the shirring member, may be regulated to vary the size of the plaits. Such regulation is accomplished at two points. First, in connection with the driven element 58, there is provided on the disk 48 a stop member 63 (Figures 3 and '7) in the form of a screw having an eccentric head to secure the same in its adjusted position. The.

second adjustment is in connection with the rod 39. As'shown in Figure 1, this rod carries a stop 65 which is adapted to contact an adjustable cam 66 mounted upon a bracket 61 secured to the work support l8 adjacent the standard H. A slot and screw connection 68 joins the cam 86 with said bracket, and said cam is provided with a handle 69 for adjusting the same after the screw. of said connection has been loosened. When the proper position of the cam 66 is attained, said screw is again tightened to maintain the cam 66 in its adjusted position .for contact by the stop 65 when the previously mentioned treadle is operated to pull downwardly upon the rod 39, thereby limiting the pivotal movement of the rocker arm 36 and consequent swinging movement of the yoke 35. The latter movement is utilized to operate the rod 34 as previously described, and also, as will presently appear, to control the amount of adjustment of the hearing 53 and consequent degree of movement of the shirring member. e The means for adjusting the driven element 58 to its operative position so as to initiate the operation of the shirring mechanism and the deree of its movement will now be described. Said means comprisesv a rod 18 slidably mounted in bearings within the hollow shaft 4| and extending axially through said shaft. At the projecting end of the rod 18 adjacent the yoke 35, the same has secured thereto a collar 12 which is yieldably held in engagement with the yoke 35 by a spring 13 coiled about said rod between the adjacent bearing H and the collar 12. The opposite end 14 is conical or tapered and in the inoperative position of the driven element 56 said end 14 is withdrawn so as not to engage with the wall of an opening 15 formed in said element 58, thus permitting said element to remain in its inoperative position under the influence of the spring 55. However, when the rod 18 is urged forwardly by the swinging movement of the yoke 35, said tapered end 14 is projected more or less into the opening 15, depending upon the amount of movement of said yoke, 50 as to engage the bevelled edge of said opening (see Figure 5), and this contact causes the element 58 to be swung to different degrees about its pivot 49 from the position of Figure 2 to, for example, that shown in Figure 3 wherein the bearing 53 is disposed eccentrically to the axis of the shaft 4| so that the transmission, including the pitman 54, will be activated to operate the shirring member. 'As previously described, when the yoke 35 is operated, the 08.11132 is, at the same time, turned to release the supporting pin 29 so that the shirrer blade 22 may be lowered to its operative position by the spring 21.

When the desired number of plaits have been formed and stitched, the operator, by releasing the treadle, permits the spring 13 to expand,

thus withdrawing the tapered end 14 of the rod ll] from engagement with the edge of the opening 15, and the expansion of said spring also restores the yoke 35 and its connected parts to their normal positions. Also, upon withdrawal of the rod and consequent freeing of the driven element 58, the spring 55 will expand so as to swing said driven element to the position of Figure 2 wherein it contacts the stop 58. Further, when the yoke 35 is restored, it exerts a pull upon the rod 34 which will again cause the cam 32 to rotate to a position where a high-point thereof will urge the supporting pin 29 against the tension of its spring 3!, into engagement with the stud 28 to thereby swing the bracket 23 about its pivot and thus raise the blade 22 to its inoperative position.

What is claimed is:

1. In a sewing machine, a shirring member for forming plaits in a fabric, a carrier for said member, an operating shaft, a constantly driven element actuated by said shaft and having concentric and eccentric positions relative thereto, a driving connection between said driven element and said carrier for operating the latter when said driven element is eccentrically disposed relative to said shaft, a slidable actuator movable longitudinally of and extending through said shaft to shift said driven element from its concentric to its eccentric position, a releasable support for maintaining said shirring member inac-- tive while said driven element is concentric to said shaft, and means to simultaneouslyrelease 7 said support and operate said actuator.

2. In a sewing machine, a shirring member for forming plaits in a fabric, a carrier for said member, an operating shaft, a constantly driven element actuated by said shaft and having concentric and eccentric positions relative thereto, a driving connection between said driven element and said carrier for operating the latter when said driven element is eccentrically disposed relative to said shaft, an actuator extending through said shaft and operable to shift said driven element from its concentric to its eccentric position, a releasable support for maintaining said shirring member inactive while said driven element is concentric to said shaft, a cam controlling said support, and means common to said actuator and cam for operating the same simultaneously to shift said driven element to its eccentric position and to releasesaid support.

3. In a sewing machine, a work support an overhanging arm, a frame assembly carried by said arm and including a housing, a shirring element above said work support, a main shaft in said arm, an operating shaft for said shirring member extending through said housing and coupled to said main shaft, transmission means between said operating shaft and shirring member including a driven element having concentric and eccentric positions relative to said operating shaft, and an actuating rod extending through said housing and operating shaft and movable longitudinally thereof to control the position of said driven element.

4. In a sewing machine, a shirring member, a carrier therefor, an operating shaft, mechanism between said shaft and carrier for operating the latter to actuate said shirring member, said mechanism comprising a rotatable element con- 'centrically mounted on and driven by said shaft, a driven element pivoted on said rotatable element and movable to concentric and eccentric positions relative to said shaft, a pitman connection'between said driven element and said carrier, and means to move said driven element to an eccentric position relative to said shaft to render effective said pitman connection.

5. In a sewing machine, a shirring member, a carrier therefor, an operating shaft, mechanism between said shaft and. carrierfor operating the latter to actuate said shirring member, said mechanism comprising a rotatable element concentrically mounted on and driven by said shaft, a driven element pivoted on said rotatable element and movable to concentric and eccentric positions relative-to said shaft, a pitman connection between said driven element and said carrier, and a slidable rod extending through said operating shaft and said rotatable element and engageable with said driven element to move the same to its eccentric position whereby said pitman will be actuated by said operating shaft to activate said carrier and shirring member.

6. In a sewing machine, a shirring member, a.

carrier therefor, an operating shaft, mechanism between said shaft and carrier for operating the latter to actuate said shirring member, said mechanism comprising a rotatable element concentrically mounted on and driven by said shaft, a driven element pivoted on said rotatable element and movable to concentric and eccentric positions relative to said shaft, a pitman connection between said driven element and said carrier, a releasable support for maintaining said shirring member inactive while said driven element is in its concentric position, and means to release said support and to move said drivenelement to its eccentric position.

'7. In'a sewing machine, a shirring member, a carrier therefor, an operating shaft, mechanism between said shaft and carrier for operating the latter to actuate lsaid shirring member, said mechanism comprising a rotatable element concentrically mounted on and'driven by said shaft, a driven element pivoted on said rotatable element and movable to concentric and eccentric positions relativeto said shaft, a pitman connection between said driven element and said carrier, a releasable support for maintaining said shirring member inactive while said .driven element is in its concentric position, a cam controlling the release of said support, a rod slid able in said shaft and engageable with said driven element to move the same to its eccentric position, and means common to said cam and rod for simultaneously operating the same.

8. In a sewing machine, a work support, an overhanging arm, a frame assembly carried by said arm above said work support and including a housing, a shirring member suspended from said frame above said support,,a main shaft in said arm, a hollow operating shaft in said housing and operatively connected to said main shaft, an operating mechanism for'said shirring member including a rotatable element concentrically mounted on and driven by said operating shaft, a driven element pivoted on said'rotat able element and movable to concentric and eccentric positions relative to said shaft, a pitman. connection controlled by said driven ele- -ment to operate said shirring member, and means to move said driven element to an eccentric positron relative to said shaft to render effective said p1tman connection.

said arm above said work support and including a housing, a shirring member suspended from said frame above said support, a, main shaft in said arm, a hollow operating shaft in said housing and operatively connected to said main shaft, an operating mechanism for said shirring member including a rotatable element concentrically mounted on and driven by said operating shaft, a driven element pivoted on said rotatable element and movable to concentric and eccentric positions relative to said shaft, a pitman connection controlled by said driven element to operate said shirring member, and a slidable rod extending through said operating shaft and said rotatable element and engageable with said driven element to move the same to its eccentric position whereby said pitman will be actuated by said operating shaft to acing a housing, a shirring member suspended from said frame above said support, a main shaft in said arm, a hollow operating shaft in said housing and operatively connected to said main shaft, an operating mechanism for said shirring member including a rotatable element concentrically mounted on and driven by said operating shaft, a driven element pivoted on said rotatable element and movable to concentric and eccentric positions relative to said shaft, a pitman connection controlled b said driven element to operate said shirring member, a releasable support for maintaining said shirring member inactive while said driven element is in its concentric position, and means to release said support and to move said driven element to its eccentric position.

11. In a sewing machine, a work support, an overhanging arm, a frame assembly carried by said arm above said work support and including a housing, a shirring member suspended from said frame above said support, a main shaft in said arm, a hollow operating shaft in said housing and operatively connected to said main shaft, an operating mechanism for said shirring member including a rotatable element concentrically mounted on and driven by said operating shaft, a driven element pivoted on said rotatable element and movable to concentric and eccentric positions relative to said shaft, a pitman connection controlled by said driven element to operate said shirring member, a releasable support for maintaining said shirring member inactive while said driven element is in its concentric position, a cam controlling the release of said support, a rod slidable in said shaft and engageable with said driven element to move the same to its eccentric position, and means common to said cam and rod for simultaneously operating the same.

12. In a sewing machine, an overhanging arm, a frame assembly carried by said arm and including a housing, a shirring member, a main shaft in said arm, an operating shaft for said shirring member extending through said housing and coupled to said main shaft, transmission means between said operating shaft and shirring member including a driven element having concentric and eccentric positions relative to said operating shaft, and means extending 7 between said driven element and said shirring member, and means to move said driven element to an eccentric position relative to said shaft to render effective said driving connection.

14. In a sewing machine, a shirring member, an operating shaft, mechanism between said shaft and shirring member for operating the latter, said mechanism comprising a rotatable element concentrically mounted on and driven by said shaft, a driven element carried by said rotatable element and movable relative thereto to concentric and eccentric positions with respect to said shaft, a driving connection between said driven element and said shirring member, and a rod slidable in said operating shaft and through said rotatable element and engageable with said driven element to move the same to its eccentric position to actuate said driving connection.

15. In a sewing machine, a shirring member, an operating shaft, mechanism between said shaft and shirring member for operating the latter and comprising a rotatable element concentrically mounted on and driven by said shaft,

a driven element pivoted on said rotatable element and movable to concentric and eccentric positions relative to said shaft, a driving connection between said driven element and said shirring member, means to move said driven element to an eccentric position relative to said shaft to render effective said driving connection, a releasable support for maintaining said shirring member inactive while said driven element is in its concentric position, and means to release said support.

.16. In a sewing machine, a shirring member, an operating shaft, mechanism between said shaft and shirring member for operating the latter, said mechanism comprising a rotatable element concentrically mounted on and driven by said shaft, a driven element carried by said rotatable element and movable relative thereto to concentric and eccentric positions with respect to said shaft, a driving connection between said driven element and said shirring member, a rod slidable in said operating shaft and through said rotatable element and engageable with said driven element to move the same to its eccentric position to actuate said driving connection, a releasable support for maintaining said shirring member inactive while said driven element is in its concentric position, and means to release said support.

17. In a sewing machine, a shirring member, an operating shaft, mechanism between said shaft and shirring member for operating the latter and comprising a rotatable element concentrically mounted on and driven by said shaft, a driven element pivoted on said rotatable element and movable to concentric and eccentric positions relative to said shaft, a driving connection between said driven element and said shirring member, a releasable support for maintaining said shirring member inactive while said driven element is in its concentric position, a

centrically mounted on and driven by said shaft,

a driven element pivoted on said rotatable element and movable to concentric and eccentric positions relative to said shaft, a driving connection between said driven element and said shirring member, a releasable support for maintaining said shirring member inactive while said driven element is in its concentric position, a cam controlling the release of said support, a rod extending through and slidable in said shaft and engageable with said driven element to move the same to its eccentric position, and means common to said cam and rod for simultaneously operating the same.

19. In a sewing machine, a shirring member, an operating shaft, mechanism between said shaft and shirring member for operating the latter and comprising a rotatable element driven by said shaft, a driven element pivoted on said rotatable element and movable relative thereto, a driving connection between said driven element and said shirring member, means to move said driven element relative to said rotatable element to render efiective said driving connection, a releasable support for maintaining said shirring member inactive before said driving connection is rendered effective by a movement of said driven element, and means to release said support when said driven element is moved.

LAWRENCE G. BURKE'Y. 

